Hurricane cleanup: Labor Dep urges guarding against Irene cleanup hazards
As residents of North Carolina recover from damage inflicted by Hurricane Irene, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Occupational Safety and Health Division of North Carolina’s Department of Labor urge workers and members of the public engaged in hurricane cleanup activities to be aware of the hazards they might encounter and the steps they should take to protect themselves.
http://www.huliq.com/1/hurricane-cleanup-labor-dep-urges-guarding-against-irene-cleanup-hazards-828
New rule: Bosses must inform workers of right to organize
Tomorrow, August 30, a rule will be published in the federal register that mandates that almost all private employers must post a notice informing employees of their rights to organize under the National Labor Relations Act. The decision, announced last week by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), applies to companies whether or not they have federal contracts.
http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/11871/nlrb_posting_rule_creates_a_stir/
Whoa! Bachman would lower minimum wage to cost of overseas labor
Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann said Friday she wouldn’t rule out changes to the federal minimum wage as a way to lower the cost of doing business and lure corporations back to the United States.
http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2011/08/whoa-bachman-would-lower-minimum-wage.html
NIOSH announces community-based anti-needlestick campaign
An estimated 385,000 sharps-related injuries occur annually among health care workers in hospitals alone, exposing them to bloodborne pathogens. A new initiative focuses on raising awareness of the risks and trying to persuade workers to make changes necessary to reduce sharps injuries.
http://www.riskandinsurance.com/story.jsp?storyId=533341004
Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis signs agreements with Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and El Salvador ambassadors protecting rights of migrant workers
Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today signed joint declarations and letters of arrangement with Ambassador Aníbal de Castro of the Dominican Republic, Ambassador Muni Figueres Boggs of Costa Rica and Ambassador Francisco Altschul of El Salvador to protect the labor rights of migrant workers from those countries who are employed in the United States. The ambassadors of Mexico, Nicaragua and Guatemala, who previously signed agreements with the Labor Department, also participated in the ceremony.
http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/ILAB20111278.htm
US Labor Department’s MSHA to propose rule on proximity detection systems
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration will publish on Aug. 31 a proposed rule requiring that continuous mining machines used in underground coal mines be equipped with proximity detection systems. Proximity detection refers to a technology that can be installed on mining machinery to detect the presence of personnel or other machinery within a certain distance. These systems can be programmed to send warning signals and stop machine movement when the programmed areas are breached.
http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20111285.htm
OSHA news releases rarely name company’s work comp carrier
When OSHA proposed penalties in January 2011 totaling nearly $1.4 million against two Illinois grain handling companies, I noticed the agency’s news release mentioned the employers’ workers compensation insurance carrier. It was the first time that I’d see this in an OSHA news release, and I wondered if it was the start of something new. Apparently, not.
http://scienceblogs.com/thepumphandle/2011/08/osha_news_releases_rarely_name.php
Notre Dame unveils aerial lift safety effort
Out of a horrible tragedy, countless lives were ultimately saved. The late Declan Sullivan’s family achieved that goal Friday as Notre Dame unveiled its UpRight! campaign to promote hydraulic lift safety. Developed with the Indiana Department of Labor, the initiative — targeting athletic and marching band programs at the collegiate and high school levels — serves as a resource for administrators, videographers and others who oversee use of aerial lifts for shooting video and directing, according to a university statement.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-08-28/news/ct-met-notre-dame-safety-20110828_1_safety-campaign-safety-effort-indiana-occupational-safety
Toy maker for Wal-Mart, Disney and Mattel accused of child labor
A factory that cranks out cheerful plastic tchotchkes for Mattel, Wal-Mart, and Disney uses child labor and grueling mandatory overtime, according to a new report by human rights activists.
http://www.hillmanfoundation.org/blog/toy-maker-wal-mart-disney-and-mattel-accused-child-labor
MetroAccess bus drivers rally against MV Transportation, long hours
MetroAccess bus drivers carry nearly 2.5 million of D.C. metro area’s residents with disabilities as of the 2011 fiscal year — and they feel their new working schedules have made their driving dangerous. MV Transportation, the company that operates MetroAccess, began scheduling its drivers to work 13-hour shifts about six weeks ago.
http://www.tbd.com/blogs/tbd-on-foot/2011/08/metroaccess-bus-drivers-rally-against-mv-transportation–12567.html
